media-releases

LOCALS HELP SHAPE VITAL CRAIGIEBURN ROAD UPGRADE

May 10, 2019

Drivers in Melbourne’s north are a step closer to a better and safer Craigieburn Road as the Andrews Labor Government’s Northern Roads Upgrade hits a major new milestone.

In March, the Request for Proposal (RFP) to deliver the $2.2 billion north and south-eastern road upgrade packages was released, allowing bidders to submit their plans for the projects. Short-listed parties will be required to respond to a Request for Proposal for each of the Northern Roads Upgrade and South-Eastern Roads Upgrade in September.

Over the past 12 months, over 2,500 pieces of community feedback have been received since proposed designs for 12 road projects in Melbourne’s north and south-eastern suburbs were released.

This feedback has provided the Government with valuable insights from road users to help refine project designs, so the upgraded roads can better meet the needs of those who use them every day.

The Northern Roads Upgrade will fix six priority roads and improve and maintain hundreds of kilometres of arterial roads across Melbourne’s north.

The upgrade of Craigieburn Road in Craigieburn will see extra lanes built in both directions for five and a half kilometres between Mickleham Road and the Hume Highway, and 12 intersections will be upgraded.

New traffic lights will be installed at the intersections of Mickleham Road, Waterview Boulevard, Cimberwood Drive and Hardy Avenue to improve traffic flow. These intersections will also provide safe U-turn opportunities and make it easier for drivers to enter and exit these local roads.

Local feedback has led to several changes to the proposed design, including direct access onto Craigieburn Road from Clovelly Drive and Chinnock Court, and new traffic lights at Balyang Way T-intersection and Dorchester Street.

Pedestrian-operated traffic lights will be installed at Craigieburn Sports Stadium, and the pedestrian traffic light at Benston Street will be kept. New walking and cycling paths will also be built along Craigieburn Road and safety barriers will be installed to improve safety for all road users.

In the past five years, there have been 17 serious injury crashes and three fatal crashes along this section of Craigieburn Road.

These upgrades will boost safety and reduce congestion for more than 28,000 drivers each day while providing better access to the Hume Highway and northern activity centres.

Bus services along Craigieburn Road will be more reliable and access will be improved to community services and businesses in Craigieburn as well as Craigieburn train station.

Meanwhile work is well underway on the $1.8 billion Western Roads Upgrade, the first part of the Suburban Roads Upgrade, with all eight major road upgrades now under construction from Altona North to Tarneit.

The Suburban Roads Upgrade marks the Labor Government’s biggest ever investment in arterial roads, with $4 billion to be spent on upgrades in Melbourne’s outer suburbs.

Construction on the northern and south eastern road upgrades is expected to start from 2020.

Quotes attributable to Member for Yuroke Ros Spence

“Locals know just how bad traffic can be on Craigieburn Road during peak times – and they’ve helped to shape a better and safer road for their community, with extra lanes and intersection improvements.”

“These vital upgrades in Melbourne’s outer suburbs will slash congestion, improve traffic flow and boost access for hundreds of thousands of drivers every day, while making these busy roads safer for all road users.”